The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-30
NELLIE'S PICKPOCKET.

Oh, MIS-. HOWELL, my purse IS
gonc," said Nellie, looking sharply ut
the young man at her side. 81 am sure"
she added, in a much lower tone, "this
fellow has taken it," We were sitting
in a box at n Partisan theatre.
"But he looks too respectable for a
thief" said I.
II nm certain of it." she continued,
"for l felt his hand close to my pocket.
And see how guilty he looks"
The poor, accused youth was, it is
true, looking wonderingly Mt the pretty,
flushed face near him, but I failed to de-
tect guilt in the soft, brown eyes and
mild expression.
"NIy dear, be quiet sure yea had your
purse with you before you make such u
harsh statement" said Mrs. Howell.
ooh, I am quite sure. I remember
running back to the moment and search
ing we'll before I found it. What
could be more convincing2'
"Then my dear, if there was a sum Of
any consequence in it we will have this
person examined before the police" said
Mrs. Howell, in q decided tone.
Forthwith I dispatched to bring a
sergeant dc villo tho little old woman
with streaming pink cap-ribbons, who,
for a douccur, shows theatre-goers their
places, tucks a Petition under their
feet, and presides over their welfare
generally.
After a few uncomfortable moments,
during which the object of all interest
complaccntly watched the progress of
an entreacte, the little woman came
back, followed by q civil looking man,
who tapped u victim on the shoulder
and requested his presence for a m
at the nearest gendsrmerie.
We followed, Nellie looking nerv u
but determined, evidently convinced
that her resolution on this occasion
would be rewarded.
We crossed the street and entered the
forbidden doors of that terror of gamins,
the police station, and the now enlight-
ened young man, after n few questions
from the officer, permitted, without the
least reluctance, an examination of his
pockets.
noticed a crest on the delicate blue
silk handkerchief and the Russian lcath.
Or pocket-book which the officer ruth
lessly drew to light, but no purse was
found.
With more than ordinary French po-
likeness, tho accused expressed regret
that msdemoiselle had been deranqed
by the occurrence, and with only a very
mildly reproachful glance and bow he
left the room.
We also started on our homeward
way, not a little mystiied by the affair.
A solution awaited us on entering our
salon, for there laid the purse where,
just for an instant it had been laid by
mademo'sclle while she gavo a highly
important pat to tho little curls around
her face and n farewell tilt to her
hat.
The next morning an apologize note
that Nellie had written with downcast
air was conveyed to its destination by
means Of the address that the officer had
taken down, and tho unpleasantncss was
dismissed from our conversation, If Not
entirely from our minds.
| Nearly two years later, at the close of
a long summer day, We found ourselves
in a little cultivated bit of grouad that
seemed to cling to the rugged side of a
Swiss mountain. A succession of scenes
and impressions new to a mind attuned
to naturc had so beguiled us that before
We commenced the descent to u hotel
! tho deep shadows ofnight wero closing
E:faat about us.